A COOL TOOL!

Email is a terrific way to communicate. But occasionally you want to hold a real conversation. The person you want to call may be in another country. You might want to have a conference call and talk to several people at once. And you want to do all this without paying big bucks for it. Are you an incurable optimist? NO!!!  

A nifty software program called Skype allows you to talk to people using your computer free.  Skype calls it “Internet telephony”.  You can talk as long as you like…for free …to anyone with a computer, an internet connection and a microphone. What a deal!!! Peg Johnson got caught up with her sisters in California using this tool last week.

If you have a relatively new laptop computer, there probably is a built-in microphone that will do the job. If you have a desktop computer, you’ll want to purchase some type of computer microphone. I recently bought a model that clips to your clothes at Radio Shack for $24.99. Computer supply stores have a variety of low-priced, suitable microphones that will serve your need.

To get started, go to http://www.skype.com and download their free software. Get your friends and family to do the same.  Have them tell you the contact name they used to open their Skype software. You can add them to your contact list.

When you want to talk, select the person from your contact list and click on “Dial”.  If the person is on their computer, he/she will hear the sound of a phone ringing on their computer. If they want to talk, they click on a button and you are having a live conversation.  Click the “hang up” button when you are done. You can make a conference call with up to four other people, and you can all talk to each other at the same time.  Easy to follow directions are available at the Skype website.

Note: Skype software is not supported by MCC nor the CTL, nor do they endorse this product.  But Skype is a cool tool we wanted to share with you!